display cables

[todlerix]

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=14-131-278&DEPA=1
first pic on new egg site

center connect s-video.. right? now look at the 4th pic, three cables, bottom one is a S-video with like 7pins and it converts to RF then RF to RF cable to connect to TV.

then it comes with another cable, but the cable only has 4pins and plastic black piece kinda like s-video

pic below, wtf is the cable for?

um, i wanna hook s-video to my s-video input on my TV, i dont wanna use RF im told its WAY WAY better.. thanks guys

 

[BillR]

The one you have labeled “S” video cable is NOT. The first one is.

 

[RawsonDR]

Hey Bill, while we're on the subject could you (or anyone for that matter) clarify this 4/7 pin s-video confusion for me?

My s-video cable (to connect to my s-video -> RCA adapter) recently broke, so I'm in the market for a new one. This raised a few questions for me.

The TV-out on both my laptop and Radeon 9700 AGP card have 7 pins. My (late) s-video cable had 4 pins, as does my Radio Shack adapter. Are the extra 3 pins only to ensure cable compatibility (thus they are not connected) or am I missing something by using 4 pin components?

On ATI's accessories website, they show 7 pin plugs that split into various outputs. However they are not very clear as to what they are used for/compatible with. If I could upgrade my components and add functionality, I would be very interested in doing so.

Thanks in advance.

-Dave

 

[ambientZ]

the extra pins in the middle are usually to carry the composite video signal (yellow rca cable). So they can produce 2cent "adapters" that just pull the center pins out and dont do any conversion. Id think you only needed 2 extra pins for that, so i dunno what the others are for.

 

[BillR]

Numerous video card companies love to use non-standard connectors. ATI uses that that particular connector because (at least on mine) it provides both composite and “S” at the other end.

It really is a crap way to build a cable but it’s what most companies do these days. I broke one ( pretty easy to do ) about a year ago and emailed ATI with a nice letter and they did actually send me a new one. Give it a shot..

Luck

 

[RawsonDR]

So the outer 4 are for s-video, and the interior 3 are simply the composite signal for the s-video -> composite adapter?

All (or most) s-video cables that I see have only the outer four pins. My adapter has only the outer four pins. So, per what I stated above, my adapter converts s-video (outer 4), but there are cheaper adapters that will simply utilize the interior three pins to pass the composite signal through?

What component exactly are you referring to, Bill, that ATI replaced for you? Do I have to email them and tell them my exact card, or are there specs I can look for to find one myself?

-Dave

 

[BillR]

So the outer 4 are for s-video, and the interior 3 are simply the composite signal for the s-video -> composite adapter?

All (or most) s-video cables that I see have only the outer four pins. My adapter has only the outer four pins. So, per what I stated above, my adapter converts s-video (outer 4), but there are cheaper adapters that will simply utilize the interior three pins to pass the composite signal through?

What component exactly are you referring to, Bill, that ATI replaced for you? Do I have to email them and tell them my exact card, or are there specs I can look for to find one myself?

-Dave

I called ATI and explained my cable broke..the sent me new one.

I don't have thier wireing diagram, but I know it's non-standard. It's also a non standard plug so don't just go plugging into it

Check with ATI, they might have a diagram on some hidden site, or just get a new one, much easier in the long run

 

[RawsonDR]

Yes, but what cable? One end obvious fits the TV-out, but whats at the other end? Are you just referring to the s-video -> RCA adapters that ship with the card?

 

[BillR]

Yes, but what cable? One end obvious fits the TV-out, but whats at the other end? Are you just referring to the s-video -> RCA adapters that ship with the card?

An "S" cable has the same pins at both ends. Your ATI adaptor just sort of splits it up for you. RCA is composite, not "S". The only answer I can give you is you need the ATI adaptor from their plug to "S".

Composite is all the signals combined into one RCA jack. "S" is croma, luma, and voltage signals in those various pins.

That, or I'm not understanding what you’re asking, which is possible..I have those "thick" days from time to time

 

[RawsonDR]

We're gettin' there.

What I was asking was what cable did you break that you had ATI send you? Meaning, what did the cable do. (i.e. "their plug" to "S"; "their plug" to both "S" and composite; etc, etc)
Basically I want to know what each pin is for on the Radeon tv-out and how to best utilize them.

This is what the last few posts have told me. Tell me if this is right:

The four outside pins (standard s-video config) are for chroma, luma, voltage signals, and ground. In a standard adapter (like the one I got at Radio Shack) the three signals are combined into one composite RCA video signal for reception by the TV.

The three interior pins, then, are 1) a single composite video signal, 2) a ground, and 3) perhaps a non connected dummy pin. Even though a composite signal could be made from the outer 4 pins ("S"), the composite is added like such so that cheap "2 cent" adapters could be used that wouldn't need to do any conversion.

Is this correct?